Friday, June 26, 2009

It can be a frustrating journey for parents seeking a handling for bed wetting in children. There are quite a few different methods out there for treating bed wetting, and being well informed.

Bedwetting, or Enuresis, is the involuntary passage of urine during sleep. An inherited small bladder is the cause of bed-wetting for most children. Their bladder is so small that it cannot hold the urine their bodies produce throughout the night. Although their kidneys are normal, they sleep so deeply that the signal of a full bladder does not wake them.

Enuresis is not caused by emotional problems; however they can be created if the situation is mishandled. Bedwetting causes guilt and embarrassment in most children. Parents should create a supportive environment, encouraging their child to overcome his or her problem. Punishment or pressure to stop having accidents in the night often creates secondary emotional problems and causes the child to take even longer to overcome bed-wetting.

Even without treatment, most children will overcome bed-wetting.

Bedwetting or EnuresisHome Care Treatments:-

Encourage your child to get up during the night. At bedtime, be sure to gently remind your child to get up when he or she has to urinate.

Empty the bladder before bedtime. Remind your child to use the restroom before getting into bed at night.

Limit fluid before bedtime. Discourage your child from drinking excessive amounts during the two hours before bedtime and avoid drinks with caffeine.

Improve access to the bathroom. Put a nightlight in the hallway and bathroom or place a portable toilet in your child's bedroom.

Parent-awakening. Wake your child up at a specific time each night, such as your own bedtime.

Medication can also be used to temporarily stop bed-wetting for special occasions such as slumber parties or other overnights.

A bedwetting alarm is one technique that teaches a child to awaken when he or she needs to urinate.

Bedwetting or Enuresis Causes:-

Common causes and risk factors of Enuresis,

(1) Genetic factors.

(2)Difficulties waking up from sleep

(3)Slower than normal development of the central nervous system.

(4)Hormonal factors.

(5)Urinary tract infections.

(6)Abnormalities in the urethral valves in boys or in the ureter in girls or boys.

(7)Abnormalities in the spinal cord.

(8)Inability to hold urine for a long time because of small bladder.

Bedwetting or Enuresis Common signs and symptoms:-

(1) Children have never achieved complete nighttime control. They have always wet the bed at least two times a month.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Cystitis is bacterial infection which affects part of the urinary tract. It is caused by bacteria entering the bladder and multiplying.

Cystitis is an infection or inflammation of the bladder, is a lower urinary tract infection (UTI).

There are two types of Cystitis. One is “bacterial cystitis”, if an attack is due to an infection by germs or bacteria. Another is “non-bacterial cystitis”, if an attack is due to an infection by germs or bacteria.

Cystitis usually affects women; male suffers should immediately. It has been estimated that 50% of women suffer from cystitis sometime in their life.

The condition causes a feeling of needing to pee all the time and then, when you do, there is burning or stinging pain and you can only pass a tiny amount. The bacteria that cause cystitis come from the vagina, the back passage or the skin surface. In woman, the urethra - the tube from the bladder to the outside of the body - is very short, making it easier for bacteria to travel from around the vagina and anal area up into the bladder.

Cystitis can also be caused by bruising to the urethra, encouraging bacteria to thrive, as a result of frequent, horse-riding or riding a bicycle for long periods.

Symptoms of Cystitis:-

(1) A burning or stinging sensation while peeing.

(2) A severe, knife-like pain when you finish urinating.

(3) The appearance of blood in the urine.

(4) A severe dragging-down pain, usually in the front of the abdomen, but quite often at the sides and to back or down the front the thighs.

(5) The frequent and urgent need to urinate, although only a small amount of urine may be passed each time.

(6) A raised temperature and shivering attacks.

(7) Felling Sick.

Cystitis Treatment :-

(1) Drink plenty of water-8 glasses a day.

(2) Try placing a heated pad or hot water bottle on the abdomen.

(3) A mild painkiller may help.

(4)Try to live unsweetened yogurt-this contains "good" bacteria which help combat the bad.

(5) Avoid wearing tight trousers.

(6) Do not fight the urge to urinate, even if this is painful.

(7) Drink 2 glasses of unsweetened cranberry juice as this can help prevent bacteria adhering to the bladder wall.

(8) A warm bath will help give some pain relief.

(9) Take a Vitamin C tablet-this can help the immune system fight the infection.

(10) Avoid using perfumed products near the vaginal area as these can cause irritation.

Cystitis Causes:-

Dehydration, poor nutrition and ignoring the urge to urinate regularly can also trigger the condition. It is also common in early pregnancy, when the urethra relaxes under the influence of the hormone progesterone and infections spread more easily. Later on in the pregnancy, when the bladder is compressed by the growing baby, it is unable to empty completely. A small amount of urine may remain in the bladder and become stagnant, encouraging bacteria to multiply, resulting in an attack.

It is especially important for pregnant woman not to ignore a urinary tract infection, as it can lead to high blood pressure or an infection within the womb.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Alcoholic liver disease :- Cirrhosis of the liver is synonymous with chronic alcoholism, but in fact, alcoholism is only one of the causes. Alcoholic cirrhosis usually develops after more than a decade of heavy drinking. Alcohol seems to injure the liver by blocking the normal metabolism of protein, fats, and carbohydrates.

Chronic hepatitis C :- The Hepatitis C virus ranks with alcohol as a major cause of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis in the United States. Infection with this virus causes inflammation of and low grade damage to the liver that over several decades can lead to cirrhosis.

Chronic hepatitis B and D :- The Hepatitis B virus is probably the most common cause of cirrhosis worldwide.Hepatitis B,like hepatitis C, causes liver inflammation and injury that over several decades can lead to cirrhosis.Hepatitis D is another virus that infects the liver, but only in people who already have hepatitis B.

Autoimmune hepatitis :- This disease appears to be caused by the immune system attacking the liver and causing inflammation, damage, and eventually scarring and cirrhosis.

Inherited diseases :- Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, hemochromatosis, Wilson disease, galactosemia, and glycogen storage diseases are among the inherited diseases that interfere with the way the liver produces, processes, and stores enzymes, proteins, metals, and other substances the body needs to function properly.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) :- In NASH, fat builds up in the liver and eventually causes scar tissue. This type of hepatitis appears to be associated with diabetes, protein malnutrition, obesity, coronary artery disease, and treatment with corticosteroid medications.

Blocked bile ducts :- When the ducts that carry bile out of the liver are blocked, bile backs up and damages liver tissue. In babies, blocked bile ducts are most commonly caused by biliary atresia, a disease in which the bile ducts are absent or injured. In adults, the most common cause is primary biliary cirrhosis, a disease in which the ducts become inflamed, blocked, and scarred. Secondary biliary cirrhosis can happen after gallbladder surgery if the ducts are inadvertently tied off or injured.

Drugs, toxins, and infections :- Severe reactions to prescription drugs, prolonged exposure to environmental toxins, the parasitic infection schistosomiasis, and repeated bouts of heart failure with liver congestion can all lead to cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis Of The Liver Symptoms :-

Many people with cirrhosis have no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. However, as scar tissue replaces healthy cells, liver function starts to fail and a person may experience the following symptoms:

Liver damage from cirrhosis cannot be reversed, but treatment can stop or delay further progression and reduce complications. Treatment depends on the cause of cirrhosis and any complications a person is experiencing. For example, cirrhosis caused by alcohol abuse is treated by abstaining from alcohol. Treatment for hepatitis-related cirrhosis involves medications used to treat the different types of hepatitis, such as interferon for viral hepatitis and corticosteroids for autoimmune hepatitis. Cirrhosis caused by Wilson disease, in which copper builds up in organs, is treated with medications to remove the copper.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Restless legs syndrome is a movement disorder that causes uncomfortable sensations in the legs. These sensations typically are worse during periods of rest, especially just before sleeping at night, but they may happen during daytime periods of inactivity, such as watching a movie, attending a long business meeting, or flying in a plane.

The discomfort of restless legs syndrome usually is accompanied by an overwhelming urge to move the legs, which may relieve leg discomfort temporarily. At night, people with restless legs syndrome often find that their leg symptoms make it difficult to fall asleep. Because of this, insomnia is common, together with extreme drowsiness and fatigue during the daytime.

Restless Legs Syndrome Symptoms :-

Restless legs syndrome causes a wide range of uncomfortable leg sensations, which may be described as any of the following: tingling, prickly, boring,crawling, pulling, drawing and, sometimes, pain.

Although the muscles of the lower legs are affected most often, restless legs syndrome occasionally can cause symptoms in the arms as well. The discomfort of restless legs syndrome is almost always accompanied by an irresistible need to move the legs. Leg movement, such as walking, stretching and deep knee bends, seems to bring temporary relief. A leg massage or a warm bath also may help.

In addition to leg discomfort, restless legs syndrome also can cause periodic jerking leg movements during sleep. These involuntary leg movements often disturb both the patient and the patient's bed partner. Also, because symptoms of restless legs syndrome tend to be worse at bedtime, people with restless legs syndrome may find it hard to fall asleep and to stay asleep. This can cause insomnia and severe daytime drowsiness that may interfere significantly with work, school and social life.

Restless Legs Syndrome Prevention :-

Although there is no way to prevent restless legs syndrome, it may help to avoid caffeine, alcohol and cigarette smoking.

Restless Legs Syndrome Treatment:-

Treatment of restless legs syndrome depends on the severity of your symptoms. If your symptoms are mild, simply exercising, stretching or massaging your legs, or taking a hot bath may bring relief. Lifestyle changes also may help, especially following a balanced diet and avoiding caffeine, alcohol and cigarette smoking. If your restless legs syndrome is linked to iron deficiency anemia, your doctor may prescribe iron.

When medication is used to treat restless legs syndrome, the following drugs are used individually or in combination:

Opioids:-These are narcotics, such as codeine (several brand names), propoxyphene (Darvon) or oxycodone (OxyContin and others), that relieve pain and suppress restless legs syndrome in people with severe, unrelenting symptoms.

Others:-Tramadol (Ultram), clonidine (Catapres), amantadine (Symadine, Symmetrel) and propranolol (Inderal) also may be useful to treat this condition. Tramadol is a non-opiod pain reliever that sometimes is recommended.

Many people with restless legs syndrome also have periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), a common movement disorder that causes involuntary, periodic, jerking leg movements during sleep. The movements occur 1 to 10 times per minute.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Fish oils, also known as marine oils, are essential fatty acids (lipids) found in fish, particularly cold water fish, and other marine life such as phytoplankton.

These oils are rich sources of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) of the n-3 (omega-3) type. The two most studied fish oil fatty acids are the 20 carbon eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and the 22-carbon docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).Following ingestion EPA and DHA are transported by the circulatory system to various tissues of the body where they are used mainly for the synthesis of phospholipids.

These phopholipids in turn are incorporated into the cell membranes of blood platelets, blood cells and central nervous system cells, as well as many others. DHA, in particular, is a vital component of the phospholipids which make up the cellular membranes of the brain and retina.

Most fish oil supplements are about 20 EPA and 10 DHA, or a total of 30 omega-3. These omega-3 fatty acids, unlike the omega-3 fatty acid found in flaxseed oil and other vegetable oils, help to keep blood triglycerides in check and may protect against atherosclerosis.

Suggested Health Benefits of Fish Oil Supplementation :-

Fish oils may primarily be indicated to lower triglyceride levels in those with hypertriglyceridemia. Another important indication may be to prevent death in those who have suffered myocardial infarctions. However, studies indicate that fish oil supplementation may be valuable in preventing a number of conditions including the following:

Crohn’s Disease :-

Fish oil may help to prevent relapse in Crohn's disease. The results of one double-blind trial of individuals with Crohn's disease showed that subjects taking fish oil experienced a significantly reduced relapse rate. The fish oil used in this trial was enterically coated free fatty acid form that provided .9 grams of DHA and 1.8 grams of EPA daily. No adverse side effects were reported.

High Blood Pressure :- Fish oil supplementation may be useful for lowering blood pressure. Analysis of 17 controlled studies indicated that supplementation with at least 3 grams of fish oil daily can lead to clinically relevant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in individuals with untreated hypertension. Doses in these trials ranged from 1 to 15 grams of EPA and DHA.

High Triglycerides :- In one double-blind study 234 men were randomly selected and divided into three groups. Each group was given 3.8 grams daily of EPA, in the form of ethyl ester, 3.6 grams daily of DHA, in the form of ethyl ester or a placebo. When compared to the placebo group triglyceride levels decreased by 26 in the DHA group and over 20 in the EPA group. However, the effect of fish oil on LDL (bad) cholesterol varies, and in some people, fish oil supplementation has been reported to increase LDL levels.

Rheumatoid Arthritis :- Some people with rheumatoid arthritis have been found to have lower than normal levels of fish oil containing omega-3 fatty acids in the fluid and blood in their joints. Studies have shown that EPA and DHA, like those found in fish oil, help to inhibit the synthesis of the inflammatory cytokines TNF (tumor necrosis factor)-alpha and IL(interleukin)-1 beta in both healthy individuals and those with rheumatoid arthritis. It has been reported that daily supplementation with 3 grams of EPA and DHA mixtures for three months or longer may reduce the number of tender joints and severity of morning sickness in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. It has also been reported that Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis that supplemented with EPA and DHA mixtures have been able lower their reliance anti-inflammatory drugs or disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.